Motor-car-spring mechanism



N. S. M NAB MOTOR CAR SPRING MECHANISM Filed Sept. 22, 1920 2 Sheet-Sheet 1 claimed.

VMONAB, a subject ofrthe Fatented Get. 23, 1923 NORMAN SINCLAIR MoNAB, or Mmwaaavmoam. AUSTRALIA/ASSIGNQB 'ro 'iHGMAS LEE COURTNEY AND AUSTRALIA.

HUGH KEITH, aunron, FWYGHIT' LLA, vrc r'onra,

MoroacAn-sPnr e MECHANISM.-

Application filedlseptember 22,1920. Serial No. 412,020.

ments in Motor-Car-Spring Mechanism; and- I do hereby declare the followingto be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and usethe same. i t

This invention relates to improved spring mechanism for motor cars or other vehicles, to reduce or absorb shocks due to the road wheels travelling over irregular surfaces.

The mechanism relates in part to the mounting of leaf springs (which may be of cantilever type) at each side of the car and in part to cushioning means to permit of and to modify forward or (as the case may be) rearward movement of the chassis frame relative to the road wheels and their axle, as well as to allow ofupward and'downward movement; 1 The application of the invention is illustrated in the drawings herewith with reference to motor car rear road wheels, but the construction may be modified as to designs and proportions of parts, and in other minor respects while retaining matter hereinafter In the drawings, Figure 1 is a side elevation showing part'ofa chassis the rear road wheel appearing in outline. V

Figure 2 shows the parts in Figure 1 in position which occurs when the wheel is overcoming a road irregularity as shown, the

chassis frame having (as will appear from comparison with Figure 1) moved forward relatively totheil'eaf" spring and the said wheel. 1 7 W 7 Figures 3 to 11 are one larger scale.

I Figure 3 shows .atransverse vertical section through the chassis frame and through a leaf springat one side of the car, theother leaf spring and some parts near it bein omitted to allow of clear illustrationof what appears. 7 Y 1 Figure 4 shows various parts-as seen when looking in the direction of arrow A in Figure 3.

Figure 11 of theleaf spring of Figures 1 and 2.

Figures 5 to 11 show various details;

' Figureb is a view of partofa rock shaft carrying abracketwhic'h carries the cushioning springs and may carry the lever next mentioned, and Figure G shows the bracket in sectionon line B. a

lfigurefl 7 shows the, said cushioning springs. i

Figure 8 vshows thelever last mentioned having connecting rodsattached to it.'

Figure '9 shows the last mentioned lever from a point-of View at right angles to that of Figure 8. V V

Figure 10' shows a plan of partof the chassis frame carrying-a bracket and roller used in connection with the cushioning springs.

shows the fulcrum plate or'pad In these drawings a; represents'part of the side ofthe chassis, frame, Ira rear' road wheehc its axle, b a. roadway,-and (Z one ofthe leaf springs as providedat each side of'the chassis, secured tothewheel axle c in suitable manner, as by the connectionch A suitable part as the forward end d of nections, asa link 6 pivoted'to. a bracket e fixed to the chassis framed. Another suitablepart, the center for example, .(ora part -near thecenter) of each leafspring is fulcruined bymeans of a pad or plate it, against a member carried by a recessed lever f, and

shown as a transverse'pin f which has ends supported in lever sides. The said pad It is fixed to spring d by clips it and moves with that spring and leverf which contains an aperture f? within which the v fulcrumed part of the leaf spring is housed.

Each lever if is fixed to; or forms part of 1 .a transverse supportingrock shaft-:gnjwhich is pivoted in bearings (7 on a! supporting. bracket g attached to the each side of the car.- I- v To allow of the adjustment ,ofrthe'brake when this invention is used abracket i next g described may, be utilized, but such ,utilizaeach leaf spring isshackled by suitable eon- 7 chassis frame at tion is merely incidental to the rest of the V invention. The main purpose 'offa bracket ate is to carry cushlonlng spr ngs descrlbed hereinafter.

The (or each) bracket (one at each side of the shaft 9) has an apertured base fixed to" the'rock shaft 9 and a fork or arms 71 carrying a cross pin 7?, which may be utilized by carrying pivotally a lever which has parallel arms, and has pivotally connected such forward movement would therefore disturb the brakes as now in use. To prevent this the compensating lever j is pivoted to bracket 2' which moves with the springs and rear axle to automatically take up the slack in the rods between the brake-actuat ing lever and the brakes. The rod 9' connecting lever y' to the brake-actuating lever is pivoted to lever as near the point of minimum movement (in relation to the brake lever) as possible. Rod j is connected to lever at the point of minimum movement in relation to the rear "axle and springs, i e. on the axial line of spring pivots 7. Thus, though the rear wheels at times approach the brake-actuating lever on the chassis, brake regulation is not disturbed because as a connection between the two sections of brake rods there is the compensating lever j.

l, Z are cushioning springs which are shown bolted in recesses 2' of bracket 2' and which have outer ends which engage opposite sides of a pressure member shown as a roller 76 which is upon a bracket attached to the chassis frame so that when the frame moves it carries the roller with it and thus pushes one or other of the springs Z, Z One or other of the springs Z, 7, can be caused to increase its pressure on the roller, by partial rotation of the rock shaft 9, as well as by 1 the longitudinal movement of the frame a when road shocks occur. The resistance of springs Z, Z to the roller is regulated as by a screw and lock nut m, or m on bracket 2'. The effect of this construction is that the swinging movement of the levers f forward or rearward when the rock shaft 9 rotates is cushioned by the horizontally effective spring Z or Z and the transmission of shock from the road wheels to the chassis is rei duced.

Instead of leaf springs Z, Z other forms as coiled springs may be used. Such cushioning springs are placeable in'various positions to cushion the shocks of'longitudina-l movement of the car frame, but retaining their occupation as set forth, with the leaf springs d. 7

Having described this invention, what is claimed by Letters Patent is movement of the frame relatively to the axle, a rock shaft carried by the frame, said springs having a fulcrumed connection adjacent their center with said rock shaft so as to be moved by the latter, as described, and cushioning springs arranged upon opposite sides of the rock shaft and having a fixed connection at one end with said shaft, and a pressure member carried by the frame, upon opposite sides of which pressure member the other end of the springs bear.

'2. The-combination with a chassis frame, of anaxle, leaf springs arranged at the sides of the frame and to which springs the axle is connected, pivoted connections between the springs and frame to allow forward or rearward as well as upward or downward movement of the frame relatively to the axle, a rock shaft carried by the frame, said springs having a fulcrumed connection adjacent their center with said rock shaft so as to be moved by the latter, cushioning springs arranged upon opposite sides of the rock shaft, a bracket secured to the rock shaft and to which bracket one end of the cushion ing springs is secured, and a pressure member carried by .the frame, upon opposite sides of which pressure member the other end of the springs bears.

3. The combination with a chassis frame, of an axle,leaf springs arranged at the sides of the frame and to which springs the axle is connected, pivoted connections between the springs and frame to allow forward or rearward as well as upward or downward movement of the frame relatively to the axle, a rock shaft carried by the frame, said springs having a fulcrumed connection adj ace-nt their center with said rock shaft so as to be moved by the latter, cushioning springs arranged upon opposite sides of the rock shaft, a bracket secured to the rock shaft and to which bracket one end of the cushioning springs bears, a pressure member carried by the frame, upon opposite sides of which pressure member the other end of the cushioning springs bears, and means for varying the cushioning resistance of the last named springs comprising-screws carried by the. bracket and bearing against the said cush ioning springs as described.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand.

NORMAN SINCLAIR MoNAB. 

